A cargo vessel Corsage C sank in Greece after it ran aground on rocks north of the island of Andros in the early hours of May 6. Authorities rescued all nine crew members and then arrested the captain and a bridge officer for negligence
The Corsage C was a 3,300 dwt cargo ship built in 1982 and sailing under the flag of Vanuatu. It was owned and operated by a Turkish company and had departed from the Adriatic region a few days earlier, heading toward Ukraine with a cargo of soda ash estimated at up to 8,000 metric tonnes.
According to initial reports, the ship passed the island of Kea but then navigated too close to the northern coast of Andros, where it struck rocks in unclear conditions. The grounding caused severe hull damage, and water began to enter the vessel rapidly, leading to a loss of watertight integrity and, ultimately, to the sinking.
The crew issued a distress call, after which the Hellenic Coast Guard coordinated a multi-agency rescue operation involving patrol boats, nearby merchant vessels, a ferry, and a helicopter.
Two crew members were recovered from the sea, while the remaining seven managed to reach the rocky shoreline of Andros, where they were later picked up. All crew members – eight Turkish nationals and one Azerbaijani national – were safely transported to the island. They are reported to be in good condition, and some were taken to a local clinic as a precaution.
Greek authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. The Port Authority of Andros arrested the vessel’s captain, a 52-year-old Turkish national, along with a 32-year-old Turkish bridge officer. Both face charges of negligence, endangering life,and causing a shipwreck.
Inspection records show that the vessel had a history of deficiencies. Earlier this year, inspectors in Ukraine identified issues related to charts and a rescue boat, while Turkish authorities recorded multiple documentation-related deficiencies in late 2025. Although the ship was not detained at the time, it had previously been held in 2024 after cracks were discovered in its deck.
Following the sinking, authorities also activated an environmental response. Coast Guard vessels equipped for anti-pollution operations were deployed, supported by additional units carrying specialized equipment, while preparations are underway to install containment barriers and absorbent materials around the wreck as a precaution, even though no visible pollution has been reported so far.
